Street-car.



No. 747,075. PATENTED DB0; 15, 1903. J. A. KRATZ.

STREET GAR.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 3, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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JOHN A. KRATZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STREET-CAR.

.EPEGIFIGATI ONforming part of Letters Patent No. 747,075, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed April 8 1903.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A.-KRATZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Street-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding steps or running-boards for street-cars and the like of the open or summer type and embodying means for automatically lowering and elevating a guard-rail in consonance with the operations of folding and extending the steps or running-boards, or to simultaneously actuate a guard-rail and awning to dispose the latter to respectively clear the side of a car and cover the steps or running-boards below when the said steps or running-boards are extended, or to obstruct entrance in one side of the car and throw the awning out of opera tive position when the steps or runningboards are folded. I

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means in connection with steps or running-boards at opposite sides of a car and adjacent guard-rails, as well as awnings, so that each of the distinct devices may be simultaneously disposed in operative position or rendered temporarily inoperative, and particularly useful in instances where it is desired or required to position the steps to prevent use of them from the inner side of a track and at the same time throw an awning out of operative position and a guard-rail downwardly into closing position and to maintain the movable parts within the maximum projection of the side of a car-body or eaves of the roof to prevent collision or contact with a passing vehicle.

The invention consists, essentially,of a folding-step or running-board organization operative from either end of a car, to which pull devices are attached and also secured to a vertically-moving guard-rail.

The invention further consists of a folding.- step or running-board organization operative from either end of a car and having pull devices secured thereto and also attached to a vertically-movable guard-rail and an awning mechanism, whereby the guard-rail and awning mechanism will be respectively operated to open the side of a car and projected out-. wardly simultaneously with the extension of Serial No. 150,937. iNomoclel.)

the steps or running-boards or said rail let downwardly and the awning turned out of operative position when the steps are folded.

The invention further consists in the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical section through a part of an open car, showing the features of the invention and illustrating the steps or running-boards extended, the guard-rail elevated, and the awning projected. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the steps folded, the guard-rail lowered, and the awning inturned out of operative position. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of an open car, showing a simplified form of the invention and embodying folding steps and a guard rail connected thereto and operative therewith and also illustrating a slight modification in the elements for operating the said parts. Fig. 4 is a detail edge elevation of one of the levers used in the construction shown by Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, embodying practically the same mechanism, with the addition of means for controlling the operation of an awning.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates an open car having reversible seats 2, with posts 3 extending up to a'roof 4, each of the posts having an extended handheld or grip 5. Depending at regular intervals from the outer side sill 6 of the car-bed 7 are hangers 8, having step or running-board bars 9 pivotally secured thereto in upper and lower positions and provided with steps or running-boards 10 on their outer extremities. The rear ends of the bars 9 are projected beyond each hanger 8 and connected by links 11, so that when one bar 9 is operated to extend or fold the same the other bar will be similarly operated. Connected to the lower bar 9 in advance of the fulcrum of the latter is an operating bar or rod 12, having an intermediate joint 13 and pivotally attached at its upper terminal to a depending projection 14 from a bell-crank lever 15, fulcru med, as at 16, to the under side of the bed and ICO having a pull or shifting device 17 secured to one angle or member thereof and operative from either end of the car by lever mechanism, as clearly set forth in an application filed by me on even date herewith. Secured to an inner beam 18 is an outwardly-projecting fulcrum-arm 19, on which is pivotally secured an intermediate controlling-lever 20, having a short member 21 above its'fulcrnm point and a lower longer member 22. In the short member 21 a slot 23 is formed and loosely receives apin 24, extending outwardly from the depending projection 14 above the point of attachment of the operating-bar 12 to said projection. Secured to the lower end of the longer member 22 of the lever 20 is a pullcord, wire, oranalogous device 25, which movably extends through a slot 26 in the sill 6 and portion of the bed or flooring 7 thereover and upwardly close to one of the posts 3 to a point above the upper terminal of the handheld 5. The cord, wire, or the like 25 engages guide-pulleys 26, 27, and 28, secured in proper relation on the lower portion of the sill and to the post 3 at points above and below the upper and lower terminals of the handheld 5, and the upper end of the said cord, wire, or like device issecured to a guard-rail 29, having free vertical movement within the confines of the handhold. The guard-rail 29 extends through'the entire series of handholds, and the pull cord, wire, or like device, together with the cooperating mechanism set forth, will be located at opposite ends of the car. To the free end of the shorter member 21 of the lever 20 above the slot 23 a pull cord, wire, or analogous device 30 is secured and then passes inwardly over a guide-pulley 31, secured to the outer side of the beam 18. From the pulley 31 the cord or analogous device 30 extends upwardly and outwardly to a slot 32 in the floor or bed 7 and passes upwardly over guide pulleys or sheaves 33, 34, and 35, secured to the post 3 at such angles and intervals in relation to each other as to be practically effective for the purpose for which they are used. The upperterminal of the pull-cord or analogous device 31 is secured to the inner short member 36 of an intermediately-fulcrumed awningarm 37, arranged close to the roof 4 and partially movable through aslot 38 in a portion of the roof structure at the eaves of the latter. Secured to the outer longer member 39 ot the awning-arm 37 is an awning-strip 40, of suitable material, having its inner edge firmly attached under the projecting side edge of the roof 4. It will be understood that the awning-arms 37 will be arranged at regular intervals throughout the length of the car, and a pull-cord or analogous device 30, together with the cooperating guide-pulleys and actuating mechanism, will also be located at opposite ends of the car.

Fig. 1, as before indicated, shows the steps or running-boards extended, the guard-rail 29 elevated, and the awning projected, which will be the arrangement of thesaid parts at the outer side of the car, and the inner side of the car will have said parts disposed as shown by Fig. 2 and compactly held within the maximum projection of the side of the car. When it is desired to fold the steps or running-boards, lower the guard-rail, and inturn the awning, the primary actuating mechanism at either end of the car is operated by a motorman or conductor, and the movement thereof is transmitted through the bell-crank devices 16, which are arranged at proper intervals to obtain the best results. The bell-crank lever nearest the primary actuating mechanism, having the depending projection 14, is swung inward in a slight arc of a circle, and the remaining bell-crank levers are correspondingly moved, and particularly that one at the opposite end of the car, which also has a depending projection 14 and an operating-bar in connection therewith similar to the operating-bar 12. (Shown by Fig. 1.) The rearward or inward movement of the depending projection 14 of each end bell-crank lever sets up an inward drawing movement on the operating-bars 12 at opposite ends of the car and pulls the lower stepbar 9 upwardly, and through the medium of the link 11 the upper step-bar is likewise moved, and simultaneously the upper member of the lever 20 is thrown rearwardly and the lower member of said lever projected outwardly, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. The

movement of the lever 20 to the position shown by Fig. 2 permits the pull-cords or analogous devices 25 and 30 to move upwardly over the posts to permit the guardrail 29 to lower and the awning to gravitate by reason of the fact that the weight of the said awning is outside of the several fulcrnms of the arms 37, and the steps or runningboards, the guard-rail, and the awning will all remain in the position shown by Fig. 2, because of the counterbalancing efiect of the awning structure and the guard-rail, until the primary actuating mechanism is manually operated in a reverse direction to extend the steps, elevate the guard-rail, and project the awning. It will be apparent that a movement of the primary actuating mechanism reverse to that necessary to hold the steps or running-boards, lower the guard-rail, and inturn the awning will dispose the cooperating shifting mechanism in the position shown by Fig. 1 and shorten the extent of the pullcords or analogous devices 25 and 30 above the bed of thecar, and consequently elevate the guard-rail for free entrance and exit relatively to the side of the car and pull downwardly on the inner shorter member of the primarily-actuated 'arm 37 to throw the awning outwardly, as shown by Fig. l. The awning has sufticient projections when thrown out into operative position to cover the steps or running-boards below and shield the conductor or others on the steps or runningboards from the weather. Care will be taken,

ICC:

however, to have the projection of the awning when in operative position no greater than the maximum projection of the steps or running-boards below. It will also be seen that the awning when inturned or withdrawn from folded position will be in such condition that a collection of water therein at any point will be avoided, no matter how heavy may be the rain-storm beating thereagainst. 13 formed in the pull-bar 12 is to give a slight movement in the length of said bar to correspond to the arcuate-shifting operation of the lever 15, and the lower end of the pull-bar will be connected to the lower end of the step or running-board bar 9 by a loose pivot, so

that none of the parts will jam or interfere with the easy operation of the contributing elements.

In Fig. 3 a modification in the step or running-board operating devices is shown, and in this instance also a guard-rail only is simultaneously raised and lowered with the extension and folding operations of the steps or running-boards and is particularly intended to indicate that the awning may be at times undesirable; but, as is obviously apparent, the guard-rail is always'necessary. In this modified form the parts of the car-step or running-board hanger, step or running-board bars, steps or running-boards, and connecting-link for the step or running-board bars are numbered similarly to the corresponding parts shown by Fig. 1. The flooring or bed 7 in this instance has a slot 41 near the sill 6 and in rear of the said slot a bearing 42 is secured and has a U-shaped lever 43 mounted therein and provided with a short arm 44 and a longer arm 45, as clearly shown by Fig. 4. The operating-bar 46, which is connected at its outer end to the upper step or runningboard bar 9, has its inner end movably attached to the short arm 44 of the lever 43. This arrangement will be duplicated at opposite ends of the car and suitable mechanism employed for actuating. the lever 43, which may be similar to the several forms disclosed in my application filed on even date herewith, and particularly the rock-shaft arrangement. To the lower end of the longer arm 45 of the lever 43 a pull cord, wire, oranalogous device 47 is attached and extends upwardly over the guide-pulley 48, held in rear of the bearing 42, and then over aguide-pulley 49 in the lower portion of the slot 41, upwardly through the said slot, and over guide-pulleys 50 and 51 on the post 3 above and below the upper and lower terminals of the handhold 52. The upper end of the pull-wire or analogous dovice 47 is secured to a guard-rail 53, movable in the handheld similar to the arrangement shown by Figs. 1 and 2. When the primary actuating mechanism is operated to throw the lever 43 in the direction of the arrow, an inward pull is exerted on the operating-bar 46, which continues until the steps or running-boards are folded, and at the same The joint time the pull cord, wire, or analogous device 47 is slackened in an upward direction to permit the guard-rail 53 to lower. A reverse movement of the lever 43 will extend the steps and elevate the guard-rail.

A further modification isillustrated by Fig.

5 and is similar to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2 to the extent of providing means for operating the guard-rail and awning, and all the parts in Fig. 5 corresponding to those shown by Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by similar numerals. The difference of construction in this instance consists in employing an operatingbar 54, which is rigid throughout its length and attached to the lower step or running-board bar 9. The upper end of the bar 54 is movably connected to the shorter member 55 of a controlling-lever 56, fulcrumed in a hanger 57, secured to and depending from the bed 7 of the car. To the longer member 58 of the lever 56 the pull cord, wire, or analogous device 25 is secured and engages parts similar to those shown by Figs. 1 and 2 and has its upper end secured to the guardrail 29, movable in the handhold or grip 5. cord, wire, or analogous device 30 has its lower end attached to the upper terminal of the shorter member 55 of the lever 56 and then passes rearwardly over a guide-pulley 31 and parallel with the lower portion of the slot 32 in the floor or bed 7, upwardly over a pulley 33, and then over pulleys 34 and 35 on the post 3, through the rear shorter member 36 of the awning-arm 37, which is similar in all respects to that heretofore described. The controlling-lever 56 is preferably in the form of a flat bar, and the mechanism for primarily actuating the same will be a rock-shaft oranalogous means employed by me in my folding oar-step or running-board constructions disclosed in other organizations.

The operation of the mechanism shown by Fig. 5 will be obvious, and it will be seen that in all the forms shown the levers 20, 43, and 56 serve as controlling-levers when properly operated to cause movement in opposite directions of the several parts in intimate relation or connected thereto.

It will he understood from the foregoing description that any mechanism adapted for the purpose may be employed for simultaneously extending and folding steps or runningboards and elevating and lowering a guardrail, and at times including a corresponding operation of an awning, may be employed. In other wdrds, the simultaneous operation of the steps or running-boards and guard-rail, with 'or without the awning, is not dependent on any precise mechanism. Changes in the proportions and dimensions may also be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with a car having movably-applied steps or running-boards and a continuous guard-rail, of means for simultaneously extending and folding the steps or running-boards and elevating and lowering the guard-rail.

2. The combination with a car, of movablyapplied steps or running-boards, a movable guard-rail, a movable awning, and means connecting the said parts whereby they may be simultaneously operated to extend or fold the steps, elevate and lower the guard-rail and project and inturn the awning.

3. A car having foldable steps or runningboards and a movable continuous guard-rail connected thereto and simultaneously movable therewith to'clear the side of the car when the steps are extended and to close said car side when the steps are folded.

4. A car having foldable steps or runningboards' and an awning connected thereto for simultaneous operation therewith, the awning being projected when the steps are extended and inturned when the steps are folded.

5. A car having folding steps or runningboards, a continuous guard-rail extending along the full complement of seat extremities, a controlling element, means for operating the controlling element, and connecting devices between the steps and controlling element and the guard-rail. v

6. A car having folding steps or runningboards, a guard-rail, a folding awning, a con- 8. Acar having a downwardly-folding awning projectable beyond the side of the car wherein the awning-covering is held taut.

9. A car having folding steps or runningboards, a downwardly-folding awning and connecting means between the said steps or boards and awning whereby the latter may be simultaneously disposed in close relation to the car side or projected outwardly from said side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. KRATZ.

Witnesses:

JESSIE A. KING, GEORGE M. BOND. 

